Improvement in medical vacuum-apparatus



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IMPROVEMENT IN MEDIGALJVAGUUM-APIARATUS,

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CON CERN:

Be it known that-I, JOHN G. HADFIELD, of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton, and State of Ohio,l have invented new and useful Improvements in Medical Vacuum-Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,- clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are made part of this specification.

My nventionconsists in improvements in apparatus employed to relieve a part or all of the human body of atmospheric pressure for medical or curative purposes. fi Figure l is a partly-sectionized side elevation of vacuum-chambers'designedfor the entire body and a limb respectively, both being operated by la single exhaust-pump. f

Figure 2 is a. horizontal section through the rear portion of the'body-chamber.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section, showing the lower pump-valve and two couplings for separate chambers.

Figure 4 is a detached view of the hand-rest of the limb-chamber.

A represents a. box or receptacle, adapted to receive the entire person in a sitting posture the same being an irregular semi-eonoidal box, preferably-mounted on casters, B, and capable of being thrown entirely open at the back, by opening a door, G. This door is, on one side, connectedto the box by two hinges, of which one, D, is shown, a thumb-screw, E, on each hinge enabling the door to be adjusted toward or from the box, so as to secure a proper air-tight fit. The side of the door opposite to the hinges is provided with two hooks, F F',

engaging over two bolts, Gr G', which being screwed' more or less into lugs, H H', on the box, bring the door tightly against the latter. The box A is surmounted by an elevated portion orneck, I, whose oblique opening, z',

for the face of the patient, has a lip or sleeve, J, of India rubber, secured to said opening by being passed over a anged margin, j. The corner of the box nearest the hinges has a round post, Khaving near its lower portion a succession of steps or notches, It, for the reception of a foot, Z, of a chair, L, having a sleeve, M, which encloses the upper portion of the post, upon which it is capable of sliding. The foot Zbeing placed higher or lower on the steps k, supports the chair at a greater or less elevation to accommodate the patient. The chair may be swung in a horizontal plane about'the post as a centre, for a purpose presently explained. The chair may have a hinged foot-rest, Z', for children. For lthe use of adults, I provide a foot-rest, N, whichhas a sleeve, O, to enclose and slide upon a foot, n, to be supported on either one of a series4 of steps, p, on a post, P, atlixed within the box near its front portion. Q is a nozzle, which `enters the box at any convenient part, and receives ailexilble tube, R, fromthe exhaust. The tube R, instead of being connected directly with the pump, as heretofore,

enters a manifold, S., through one of a series of faucets, T T', each of which may have its proper tube connected with a separate vacuum-chamber. One such chamber is shown at U, being ahollow cylinder, provided with a exible lip or sleeve, V, a series of opposite orilic'es', tt u', to receive the pivots z zu' of a hollow hand-rest, composed of two tubes, X X', sliding one within the other, and held in their extended position Aby means of a spiral spring, Y. The orifices u u are covered by sheaths Z Z' to prevent leakage.` The manifold, S, contains a valvechamber, SA', having a valve, s, opening outward or toward the pump, and which forms, in effect, the inductionvalve of the pump. This valve is readily accessible by simply nnscrewing the manifold, S. This arrangement is more convenient than where the induction-valve is within the pump, because ofits accessibility for inspection and repair, and because it can be removed without disconnecting or disturbing the pump. The back edge of the receptacle has a gasket, W, of India rubber, to enable thevdoor to be closed air-tight against it. The screws G G' enable the setting up or adjusting ofthe door, to preserve an equal bearing of every part of it against the box.

The operation is as follows: For body-treatment, the chair and foot-rest L N, are respectively adjusted to the proper heights, and the former being swung outside of the receptacle, the patient takes his seat thereon, and is swung around within the receptacle until the chair assumes the position seen in-g. 1. The patient then places his face so as to occupy the sleeve J, and the door being shut, is secured by means of the hooks F F' and screws G G', and the air exhausted iu the usual way. v

The adjustable devices D, E, F F', G G', II H', enable the instrument to be used with a great -variety of patients. By removing the hand-rest X X' :u Y, entirely, the receptacle U may be used for the leg, A cushion may be inserted in the bottom of the said receptacle, instead of the rest aforesaid,v

I claim herein as new, and of my invention- 1. A medical vacuum-chamber, A, having the elevoted neck I, with face-opening z', vand an open rear, closed by a. door, C, and fastening-devices, substantially as set forth.

2. The chair L,-cupa.ble of being swung out or into the case, inthe manner and for the purpose @et forth.

3. Such a. chair, when adjustable in height upon its axis, substantially as eet4 forth.

4, VIn combinotonwith 'the elements of claim irst, th'e parts D, E, F F', Gr G', H H', or their equivalents, by which'the door is made to' bear with an equal and air-,tight pressure at every part.

5. lIn the described combination, the adjustable foot-rest N and 'notched post P, as set forth.

6. In this connection, the arrangement of the manifold, S, twoor more faucets T T', and couplingeneek S',

provided with an outivnrdly-opening valve, s, afs and for the purpose set forth. M

7. The limb-receptacles U u, when combined with the'adjustable hand-rest X X :v Y. In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand. JOHN G. HADFIELD.

Witnesses:

Gmo. H. KNIGHT, JAMES H. LAYMAN. 

